Net holder for games



P 1950 w. A. L. GILES 2,522,754

NET HOLDER FOR GAMES Filed April 21, 1947 FIG.

) INVENTOR fi WALTER. A. L. GILES l I BY I8 I9 l6 us I3 ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 19, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NET HOLDER FOR GAMES Walter A. L. Giles, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application April 21, 1947, Serial No. 742,934

3 Claims. (Cl. 273--30) This invention relates to a game apparatus and in particular to a support and stretcher device for a Ping-pong net.

One object of my invention is to provide a support and stretcher for a net for a Ping-pong type game which may be quickly assembled for use. Another object is to provide a support and stretcher for a net for a Ping-pong type game which may be folded into a compact portable package and be readily assembled for use.

These and other objects are attained by my invention which will be understood from the following description and the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view showing the preferred form of my invention in assembled position;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of my holder with the net removed;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view corresponding to Fig. 2';

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a disassembly of the base board and an upright member cut from a slot therein;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a notched member attachable to the uprights for holding the stretched net;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the lever arm used with the notched member of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of the support and net stretcher in completely folded condition.

Referring to the drawings, a preferred form of my net support and stretcher consists of a base ll consisting of a relatively narrow strip of wood of suitable length to extend across a playing court such as a Ping-pong court having upright members l2 near each end of the base. The base H is preferably made in two pieces HA and HB, hinged together longitudinally by hinges l3 applied on the underside of the base and arranged so that it may be folded together when desired for storage or carrying with only half the length required to span the playing court. The base and upright members may be made of any suitable material but I prefer to make them from wood because of its light weight and low cost. The upright members may be formed of long triangular-shaped pieces cut from the ends of the base board to form bifurcating slots, as shown particularly in Fig. 4. The upright members are pivoted by pivot pins l4 extending through the bifurcated end portions H: of the base H at the bifurcating slot. The upright members are provided with screw hooks I6 corresponding to the top and bottom positions of the net l'l. Each upright member on its inner face is also provided with notches, which may be arranged on a notched plate l8, arranged to engage the end of a U-shaped brace member 19, conveniently made of heavy wire, and being pivoted and heldon the base at a short distance inwardly from the uprights [2 by means for example of staples 20 embedded in the wood base II. The U-shaped brace member is arranged so that its cross bar 2| engages one of the notches in the notched plate I8. When the net is fastened to the screw hooks IS with the upright members in approximately vertical position, the net may then be stretched tight and held in this condition by means of the U-shaped brace members 49 engaged in suitable notches of the notch plate l8 to securely hold the uprights against the tension of the stretched net.

When it is desired to carry or store the game apparatus the net is released from its stretched condition by releasing the brace members l9 from the notch plate I8. The upright members l2 may then be rotated on the pivots I l into the cutout slots 22 and the brace members I9 are rotated against the base. The net may remain tied to the screw hooks IE or it may be released therefrom as desired. The base member II is folded together on the hinges l3 and the folded apparatus with or without the net may be strapped or tied into a compact bundle which is convenient for carrying and storing.

As the game of Ping-pong is now played, especially constructed tables are required. The game may be played with the net placed upon a smooth area laid out on a pavement, floor or sidewalk. For public playground use and for school playgrounds, it is impracticable to have enough tables for the large number of players who may wish to engage in this game. By providing portable net supports and stretchers, preferably in the foldable form shown, a large number of players may be accommodated.

Another advantage of my net holder and stretcher is the minimum time and trouble that is required to set up the game apparatus ready for playing. With the present types of equipment, considerable time is required to arrange the apparatus with clamps, etc., on a specially made table. My device may be used as a net at the center of a conventional ping-pong table.

While I have shown one form of my invention, it will be understood that variations in the construction may be made, within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A portable game apparatus consisting of a fiat bottomed base adapted to rest upon and extend across a playing court; upright members pivoted at the opposite ends of said base and adapted to be folded down parallel to said base when said apparatus is not in use, said upright members being provided with a series of notches on their inside faces; and brace members pivotally attached to said base inwardly from said upright members and adapted to be folded down parallel to said base when said apparatus is not in use, said brace members being provided with notch-engaging means adapted to hold said uprights against the tension of a net attached to and stretched between said upright members.

2. The portable game apparatus as defined. in claim 1, in which the base is hinged at its middle so that the two halves of the apparatus may be juxtaposed to eiiect compactness for .portability. 3. The portable game apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which the base is provided with recesses extending inwardly from each upright member and into which recesses said upright members may be folded when said apparatus is 

